Raising a happy, healthy family requires ongoing work. Whether you want to teach your kids the importance of volunteering or you want to break the cycle of obesity or heart disease in your family, it's important that you start early and work together to achieve this.
Step 1
Encourage each other to exercise. On weekends, spend time riding a bike, playing Frisbee in the park or camping. Not only will staying active improve everybody's health, but it will also strengthen your ties as a family. Try things out of the ordinary so it doesn't feel like you're exercising. iVillage recommends playing miniature golf, planning a scavenger hunt or obstacle course or having a Hula Hoop contest with the kids.
Step 2
Eat meals together as a family. According to an article in the New York Times, families who eat together are more likely to share and talk about their problems. This in turn can help kids stay away from drugs, alcohol and depression. Make time for family meals as often as possible. While at the table, spend time talking about important issues, whether that's school, peer pressure or your next vacation together. This can also be a good time to introduce kids to healthy foods.
Step 3
Get a pet. According to an article in the website Parents Canada, pets can help kids learn responsibility, improve their social skills and increase empathy. Pets also can provide stress relief and give families a reason to exercise together--for example, by taking the dog for a walk.
Step 4
Establish rules. According to child development specialist Christine Todd, rules help kids understand what's right and wrong and prepare them for the "real" world. To make things even, set rules for adults too. For example, everybody must respect others' privacy. Name calling is not allowed. Whatever the rules are, make sure everybody, including yourself, abides by them. Keep the number of rules to a minimum.
